Little Miss

 

This little miss loves her little brother….

sooo much!!

I think she also loves being Daddy’s only little girl!

My Thumb Sucker

This little guy loves his thumb…

… a lot!

And there is not a darn thing I can do about it.

Valentine's Day

Chris and I rarely buy each other gifts on holidays.  When holidays roll around if we buy something it is usually something for the house.  However, Chris has been known to surprise me from time to time.  A few years ago he surprised me with a new computer for Christmas.  When Valentine’s day rolled around this year I was really not expecting much more than a card.  His cards are always more than enough!

Thursday morning when I came in from my run I spotted this on the kitchen table.  He had just finished working out and was unloading the dishwasher – another reason I love him so much!  ha ha.



It was seriously the sweetest thing ever!
I was really surprised when I opened the box!



It was a new watch… I have not worn a watch in years so I was so excited to get a new one.  The first birthday gift that Chris bought for me was a watch and I wore it until it was worn out!  So this gift was kind of extra special.

I wanted to make Valentine’s day special for the kiddos too so we started with a fun pancake breakfast!



I used my Pampered Chef Creative Cutters to cut heart shaped pancakes for them.  We love buck-wheat pancakes.



Colton is not a breakfast person… well… he’s really not much of a food person so getting him to eat an early breakfast before school is always a struggle.  He did manage to eat two pancake hearts ;)



Colton and I made these cute little valentines for his classmates!  Chris ordered the toothbrushes for me on Amazon – the writing on the back was all foreign – Japanese I think.



Claire and I used our creative cutters some more at lunch!  She was pretty fond of her pink marshmallows.  She loves marsh-mellons as she calls them.



I would have to say it was a great Valentine’s day!  How was your day?  Link your post up below!

I can Do This

After having Beckham I thought it would take forever for me to get back into my running groove.  The first week out was rough.  I was so paranoid about prolapse, my uterine area was tender, and not to mention I was carrying around about 20 extra pounds.  I started slow with a goal in mind.  I wanted to get back to where I could run 3-4 miles pain free so that I could start training for the Knoxville Half Marathon.

Last April, seven weeks pregnant I completed the Knoxville Half.  It was seriously the most amazing race.  Granted I have not done that many races, but I knew this race was special.  For one – its not an easy flat course.  It is a true test of your athletic ability and when you finish you know you have done something amazing.  The race goes through campus which I LOVE!  I am crazy about my alma-mater and any chance to be involved in something on campus you can count me in!  Finishing on the 50 yard line of Neyland Stadium is just icing on the 13.1 mile cake :).

So I made out a training schedule and last month set it in motion.  I have two friends that are game and wanting to train too (one for the Knoxville half and one for the Nashville half).  Getting up at 5:30am is much easier when you know there is someone counting on you to be there so they can run too!  So the girls and I have been bundling up and busting on some miles on the pavement!

Last week we got in 15 miles!  Yes, 15 miles.  Can I tell you how wonderful it is to be back on track!?

We did two days at four miles and then Saturday is our long run day.  This Saturday we pulled in seven miles!!  I was so excited about the run I could hardly stand it!

Honestly, I felt like my old self again!  I can do this… I can actually do this and I am so stinkin stoked about it!

Don’t forget about the Shakeology giveaway going on right now on my blog!  30 day supply of a YUMMY protein/health drink!

My Sleepy Boys

I peeked in on my boys the other day while they were napping…

Colton was passed out asleep with his book still propped up from where he was reading.  Seriously so sweet!

The littlest of my Brooks boys was snoozing on my bed.  I am so blessed to have such great sleepers!  It is so hard not to just kiss them all over while they are peacefully sleeping.

I love these boys… feeling so blessed to be their momma!

My Boys!

These are my boys… and they are both so sweet!

Colton loves his baby brother.  He tells me everyday how much he loves him and that he is going to take good care of him.  So sweet!  I love these boys!

The Best Shape of Your Life {Giveaway}

One of the great benefits of social media is meeting new people.  I have had the awesome opportunity of meeting Rhonda Layton on a Facebook page dedicated to moms who like to run.  Rhonda has the special gift of encouragement and that is exactly how her and I connected.  As a mother runner herself she was sending me some mom love and encouragement during my issues with running.

Rhonda has an amazing success story of her own.  With some goal setting, personal accountability and motivation Rhonda went from being reasonably healthy and in good shape to being in INSANE shape!  Her own personal story is one of goals and motivation – something we can all glean from.  Being inspired by the Insanity Workout program Rhonda decided to become a Beachbody coach.  She has a plethora of information on exercise and nutrition.  She is the one who got me hooked on broccoli slaw!  Rhonda also introduced me to Shakeology and has offered to do a giveaway here on my blog!  Not just any giveaway, but a 30 days supply of the chocolate Shakeology!!




Chris and I love protein shakes.  We have tried several different protein powders and finally stuck with one that we thought tasted the best.  Well, that was until I tried the Shakeology Chocolate for the first time.  I will be honest and tell you that I was a bit of a skeptic.  I thought this was going to taste like any other protein powder.  Well… I was WRONG!  I am not kidding you – it was like a chocolate milkshake!  It was so much more flavorful than any other protein drink I have tried and soooo smooth!  My kiddos even loved it!  Did I already mention it tasted like a milkshake!?



Shakeology is not like your typical protein powder.  The powder contains some of the worlds most powerful Super Foods.  It helps strengthen your immune system, lower your cholesterol, aid in your digestion and allow better absorption of the nutrients your body needs.  It will also help aid in weight lost and increased energy.  Oh yeah, and its available for Vegans.  This is not just protein - this is a nutritional break through!

Here is the funny thing… as I sat at my kitchen table writing this post I felt so inspired that I shot her an email asking her how we can get started on my fitness transformation.  Rhonda offers free coaching a daily inspiration on her website and Facebook page.  Stay tuned for more info on how that goes!

So who wants to get in the best shape of their life in 2013!  Use the Rafflecopter below to enter to win your very own 30 day supply of Chocolate Shakeology and get started on the right foot! 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

2 Months Old

I am a month late (blah!)  in getting this post up, but I wanted to do it anyway!!

Weight:

At your 2 month checkup you weighed 12 pounds and 2.5 ounces.

Height:

Beckham you are long just like your brother and sister.  You measured 23 1/2 inches long!

Clothing:

At the 2 month mark you were fitting nicely in 3 month clothing

Feeding & Sleeping:

You are still on a 3 hour feed cycle and at 2 months you finally gave in to an 8 hour stretch of sleep at night!

Other stuff:

You LOVE LOVE LOVE the changing table!  Every time I put you on it to change your diaper  you get so excited.  You are such a lovable little guy and I struggle with not putting you in bed with me and snuggling with you while you sleep!

{Free Printable} Feb–March Calendars with Notes

My monthly calendars with notes are essential to my home binder!  I totally dropped the ball and forgot to post this on my blog last month.  I have had several readers email me… so here they are!  I hope you enjoy!!

If you would like this printable for yourself click on the image – it will open up in a new window.  Then, right click and choose to “save image as…” and save it to your computer.

Also, please remember to hop over and enter my giveaway for a free home security system!!

We Match!

Colton always notices if someone has the same colored shirt or pants as him.  “We match!… We match!” he says.  So a few weeks ago after we had gotten home from church Chris was changing Colton into some comfy clothes and Colton said – no you go and put on something to match!

He was so smitten when he saw that he and Daddy really matched!

It was the cutest thing ever.  He is really going to love it when he sees all the matching outfits I have for him and Beckham for this spring and summer.  Momma went a little over board when she found out she was having another boy!

Of course Claire had to get in on all the excitement!

Family Hug!!!

Smile Claire

“Claire, smile so I can take your picture!”

“No just a regular smile where you show me your teeth”

Silly girl!

Rested Ramblings

Life has been so hectic lately.  You could say a “good” hectic I suppose, but busy nonetheless.  I am still getting acclimated to being a mom of three.  There are days when I feel like I do not sit down until about 1:30-2pm when they are all down for a nap.  During naptime I am in a mad dash to get things accomplished.  Of course a great deal of time is spent cleaning up.  My Pampered Chef business is keeping me busy too.  I love Pampered Chef and the potential that is there, but I still want to make sure I am prioritizing my children above my work – this is sometimes hard.

Great new is that I am back to running and it has been absolutely wonderful!  Normally I run around 5:45-6am with some girlfriends.  It has been super cold, 21 during my run on Monday, but I do not mind it all.  Saturday we pulled in five miles – my longest since my half marathon last April and I felt exhilarated afterward.  My first week out after giving birth was rough, I was so afraid that I would never be the same.  Slowly though I am coming back into my own and it is so exciting.  My foot has been giving me fits this week – plantar fasciitis is no joke.

These 5:30am wakeup calls caught up with me last night.  We were bathing the older two and Beckham was fussing in my bed.  I went in to check on him and soothe him back down – he’s sleeping at night in the playroom, but I had not put him in there yet because the other two had been playing in there.  Anyway, the next thing I remember is Chris saying that Claire was asleep and that Colton wanted me.  Apparently I fell asleep with Beckham in my bed.  Everything else is pretty hazy – needless to say I feel rested this morning.  Sometimes we all need a 7:30pm bedtime :).  The big downfall though is that I did not get to spend anytime with Chris.  There’s always tomorrow, right!?  I need to start getting up that early every morning though – just to get stuff done.

Beckham is growing like crazy.  He is so long and looks more and more like his Daddy everyday.  Colton and Claire are just wild over him.  Colton loves school now more than ever.  He is learning to read and he loves it.  When I read to him at home he points at words and sounds them out and tries to read to me – it thrills me heart!  Claire wants to go to school so bad.  When August gets here I do not foresee any problems with her starting K3.  She tells me at least once a week, “I want to go to Mrs. Shannon’s class and see my friends”.  Its so cute.  She has actually been calling us (her family) – her friends.  Chris and Colton ran an errand the other day and when she heard them coming back into the house she said, “oh my friends are home” … it was so funny.  She is a moody little 2 1/2 year old, but loving too.  Right now she is camped out with me in my bed watching morning cartoons.  I love these moments.

Gotta run for now, the laundry is calling my name.  Do not forget to go and enter my giveaway for a FREE Security system from SimpliSafe!  You can enter daily via twitter.

{Giveaway} SimpliSafe Wireless Home Security System

Chris and I have been looking for a home security system for a long time.  We have looked into different security systems, but have never felt comfortable with the options that were available.  Recently, we had a scare and it really lit a fire under us so Chris got back on the web and did a bunch of research.  He quickly came across SimpleSafe.

One of the first things that stuck out was that SimpliSafe is endorsed by Dave Ramsey!  Financially, Dave is not going to steer you into the wrong direction so Chris immediately started to dig deeper into their website and before I knew it he had ordered us our very own home security system!  I think what helped seal the deal for my husband was that there was no pricey monthly monitoring charge and no contract!!  Why should you have to sign a contract?!

The monitoring (if you choose alarm monitoring) is only $14.99 a month and we will probably save around $10 a month on our homeowner’s insurance.  Most companies lock you into a 2-3 year contract and charge anywhere from $30-$50 a month for monitoring.  The wireless feature is also something that I love.  If the power ever goes out you are still protected.  If an intruded were to cut your phone line you are still protected because SimpliSafe works off of a cell phone signal. If you do not have good cell reception in your area no fear, you can hook it up to your home phone or internet.

Our system arrive a few days after Chris ordered it.  Everything came nicely packaged along with extra adhesive strips and step by step instructions.  The complete set up literally took my husband under half an hour!  It took longer to get it out of the packaging than to install.  Everything came in the box pre programmed with the lithium batteries installed and adhesive strips ready-mounted.  This do it yourself home security system is super simple to install. All of the components come with 3M adhesive strips that will not damage your walls. 

The system has both an away and a home setting.  When you’re home you can put it in home mode for partial activation of your system.  You can choose what features you want on or off while on home mode.  For us we deactivate the motion sensors, but we still have on the door chimes. 

Yesterday morning my 2 1/2 year old opened our sliding glass doors to go out and see the snow.  I was in my room feeding Beckham and my husband was in the basement doing laundry.  The system was set off with a beeping sensor, but gave us enough time to go and disarm the system before the alarm was set off.  This home setting makes me feel so much more secure now because I spend a great deal of time at home alone with our children during the day.

The keychain remote is also a nice feature.  Sometimes when I am coming home my hands are full and getting in the door can be a hassle.  With the keychain remote I can simply deactivate (or activate) the alarm with the press of a button on my keychain.  There is also a Panic Button so if my husband or I ever find ourselves in need of immediate assistance we can simply press and hold the panic button.  This will alert SimpliSafe that we are in immediate danger and the police will be dispatched.

This system is also completely portable which will come in handy when we sell our home. We can simply take the system down, pack it up and install it in our new home. If we need to add components such as door sensors we simply go to their website and order what we need.  SimpliSafe also has an additional / upgrade plan that will send you SMS text alerts whenever the system is armed or disarmed and will also alert you when the system is triggered.  Seriously the benefits are never ending with this system!

Here is the best news of all… SimpliSafe is giving away this awesome 8 Piece Plus Package to one of you!!



If you win, you will receive this 8 piece “plus” package along with 1 month of FREE service!!  A value of $274.94 (8 piece package is $259.95 and 1 month of service is $14.99).

8 piece Plus Package Includes:

1 Base Station

1 Wireless Keypad

1 Motion Sensor

4 Entry Sensors

1 Keychain Remote

If you need additional equipment you can always go back to SimpleSafe’s website and purchase what you need.  You can add features at any time! 

So who is ready to win an awesome home security system?  Use the Rafflecopter below to enter the giveaway!!

If you are not familiar with Rafflecopter and cannot figure out how to enter the giveaway just watch this quick video!


a Rafflecopter giveaway